An ambush by an Islamic State gunman in Syria killed two U.S. soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) reported. Three other service members were injured in the attack, while the gunman was killed by responding forces.
Syria Ambush Kills U.S. Personnel
Officials have not yet released the identities of those killed, pending notification of next of kin. Initial assessments indicate the attack was carried out by a lone Islamic State gunman, according to a Pentagon official.
Syria’s state news agency reported two Syrian service personnel were also injured in the attack. U.S. President Donald Trump stated on social media that the incident was “an ISIS attack” against the U.S. and Syria, promising “a very serious retaliation.” Syria’s president reportedly sent condolences to Trump following the attack.
As of Sunday, two of the injured American personnel had been released from the hospital, Trump said.
The ambush occurred in Palmyra, in central Syria, while the soldiers were “conducting a key leader engagement,” according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. The attack is currently under investigation.
A Pentagon official noted the attack took place in an area not under the control of the Syrian president. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the attacker was a member of the Syrian security force.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the gunman’s identity remains unconfirmed.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a statement saying, “Let it be known, if you target Americans – anywhere in the world you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you.”
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani condemned the attack and extended condolences to the families of the victims. U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, strongly condemned the “cowardly terrorist ambush” and reaffirmed commitment to defeating terrorism with Syrian partners.
Last month, President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Donald Trump at the White House, describing the visit as marking “a new era” for the two countries. Syria recently joined an international coalition to combat IS and pledged cooperation with the U.S.
The global coalition aims to eliminate remaining Islamic State elements and stem the flow of foreign militants to the Middle East. While IS lost the last of its controlled territory in Syria in 2019 , the group has continued to carry out attacks. The United Nations estimates between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters remain in Syria and Iraq.
U.S. troops have maintained a presence in Syria since 2015 to train other forces as part of the campaign against IS.
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